Official website of the President of Russia

Transcripts   /

Alexander Lukashenko: Dmitry Anatolyevich,

I would like once again, officially this time, to thank you for coming here on this day of such important memory for us and our peoples.

I think that people here feel that we truly have always been together and will never live apart. You were very right in saying that today, politically, legally — however you look at it — we have established a unified state in which we defend these borders together. We have a common customs post just a few metres from where we are now. It is important to give real substance to everything we have done so far.

I think there is much we can do together, and most importantly, much that we must do for the sake of the people who came to welcome you, the people who have come in their thousands to this square today.

Dmitry Medvedev: Thank you very much, Alexander Grigoryevich.

Thank you for the invitation to visit Belarus and Brest on this special day for our peoples – the day marking the start of the Great Patriotic War. I have long since wanted to come here. It is very important, of course, that the memory of those events not be forgotten. The thousands of people here today truly do affirm the simple thought that not only do we remember those days, but they unite us.

The people who came to meet us during our visit to the monument were people from both Belarus and Russia, people who speak a common language. You are right: we do need to do all that we can to live up to their hopes and expectations.

We already have our work set out. We will discuss all the current issues on the agenda. They include developing our economic ties, political cooperation, and cooperation on the international stage.

I think that not a single question will be left unanswered. This is good as it ensures the continuity we need to maintain our relations at the highest level.

I am very pleased to have this chance to visit you and I thank you once again for the invitation.